Legionella Water Testing & Legionnaires’ Disease
Legionella bacteria is found in natural environments including ponds, rivers and lakes and causes Legionnaires Disease. Legionella can also be supplied in small amounts within the mains water supply where it can multiple within hours in your hot and cold water systems.
Legionella may grow in ANY water systems for a range of simple reasons such as stagnation, poor temperatures, lack of management and nutrients. These conditions in combination of the creation of water droplets (aerosols) where people using or within the area of these services may be at risk.
What does the HSE say about Legionella Testing?
Q. Who must undertake Legionella Testing?
There is a Legionella risk for the bacteria to grow in any water system with the right conditions, therefore it is an absolute need to manage and mitigate this and according to the HSE –
“If you are an employer, or someone in control of premises, including landlords you need to be aware of the risks that legionella poses.”
Q. How often must I test for Legionella?
According to the HSE guidelines “water samples should be analysed for Legionella periodically to demonstrate that bacteria counts are acceptable.”
Q. Can I do Legionella Samples instead of a Legionella Risk Assessment?
No, Legionella water testing & analysis does NOT replace Legionella Risk Assessment.
Q. When should I undertaken Legionella Sampling?
HSG 274 Part 2 says that legionella bacteria testing “should be carried out where there is doubt about the efficacy of the control regime or it is known that recommended temperatures, disinfectant concentrations or other precautions are not being consistently achieved throughout the system.”
In-field Legionella Water Testing & Analysis Services
uRisk provide in-field UKAS accredited Legionella water testing and analysis, where our trained water hygiene engineers visit your property to collect water samples from risk areas predetermined by your Legionella Risk Assessment.
Legionella samples are collected in sterilised bottles (with sodium thiosulphate), using one bottle per sample location for accurate results, before being delivered to our UKAS accredited laboratory for analysis. The laboratory will identify the presence or absence of Legionella in the water sample collected, along with the bacterial count and Legionella species present.
Legionella Testing Kit (DIY)
Alternatively, if you are considered a competent person that understands water systems, designs, materials, and legionella control and mangement risks, and you have a Legionella Risk Assessment to aid your sampling plan, you might want to consider our more cost effective approach of a DIY Legionella Testing Kit.
However, please be aware that failure to mitigate the risk of Legionnaires’ disease safely may be fatal, with up to 30% fatality rate in high risk areas, so it should be taken seriously.
If you are unsure on how to undertake a robust Legionella Sampling Plan based on your Legionella Risk Assessment, the in-field legionella testing & analysis is likely to be more suitable for you.
When should Legionella Testing be done?
- As per the Legionella Risk Assessment and risk areas identified
- Where Legionella Monitoring failures occur
- Where there are any non-conformances
- Routine Legionella Testing for ongoing Legionella Control and Management
What needs Legionella Testing?
Routine Legionella Testing & Analysis is the most effective way to determine monitoring and control Legionella Bacteria to determine if your Legionella Control and Management procedures are adequate and working. The following assets should be tested regularly:
- Drinking Water
- Hot and Cold Water Systems
- Cold Water Storage Tanks
- Water Heaters
- Dental Chairs/Lines
- Pools
- Cooling Towers
- Other Water Systems
Legionella Water Testing & Analysis Services We Offer
In-Field Legionella Testing
A qualified engineer will take legionella samples to British standards. From your legionella risk assessment they will identify the number of samples required and locations to take them from.
Legionella Testing Kit (DIY)
Receive your legionella test kit (DIY) in the post. The package includes your sterile sample bottles, instructions, and a free pre-paid return package. Perfect for a non-intrusive, cost effective legionella sampling.
Subscription Testing Kits
Order repeat periodic legionella testing sample bottles to be scheduled for delivery when you want them: quarterly, six monthly or annually. Order your legionella testing kit (DIY) subscription today.
Service Process
Get a Quote
Get a quote today by phone, email, or complete our contact form to receive a quotation within 24 hours.
Booking
Our coordinator will be in touch to confirm a Date That Suits You, along with estimated time of arrival.
Your Appointment
On the day of your appointment, you will receive a 30 min Curtesy Call from an engineer to confirm they're on route.
Report
Your report is then Quality Checked and emailed in PDF Format, with Next Day Delivery.
Support Call
Our support team will be in touch to arrange your free 30 min Support Call to help explain your report.
All payments are due prior to booking completion unless agreed in writing for 30 days from the date of invoice. We will hold your booking time for 24 hours whilst we await payment. Reports are typically next day delivery, but please allow for up to 5 working days delivery.
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Customer Service
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Operations
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Technical
Legionella Water Testing FAQs
Is Legionella testing a legal requirement?
No, legionella testing is not compulsory. The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8) HSG 274, states that you are currently legally required to undertake a legionella risk assessment, but not water testing. However, whilst it is not compulsory, the HSG 274 confirms that the assessment may require or request that samples are taken for a variety of reasons and is recommended as part of your control measures.
Is testing for Legionella the same thing as an ACOP l8 risk assessment?
No, these are not the same thing and offer different benefits as part of an overall legionella control strategy. An L8 risk assessment is a legal requirement and helps to identify areas that pose a risk of legionella growth. Whereas legionella water testing is not a legal requirement but is the only way to detect the presence of legionella in the water system and therefore, plays a crucial role in legionella control. They are two different services for different purposes. Without a legionella risks assessment, legionella testing is carried out without the necessary information to undertake to test accurately.
How long do the results from the water samples take to come back?
Legionella water testing takes 14 days, this allows the bacteria to be cultivated and meet requirements set in place by UKAS for the correct bacteria testing conditions. Once the testing is completed the reports are produced by our team thereafter. Results are sent as soon as they become available and have been reviewed.
How much does testing & water sampling cost?
Legionella water testing starts from £40.00+VAT for a single bottle. There may be additional charges for site visits, delivery, postage, or specialist guidance or advice.
Do landlords have to do Legionella testing?
No, landlords must undertake a legionella risks assessment in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. However, as guidelines state for commercial properties, legionella water testing is recommended to determine legionella presents or as recommended by the legionella risks assessment, which is required.
How long does a Legionella certificate last?
A legionella certificate is a phrase that is used regularly but it has little meaning. You are required to have a risks assessment in line with the Legionella Control Association Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH, Public Health England Management of Health and Safety at Work Act to name a few. This risks assessment is a live document that should be required periodically as required by law & the guidelines used to state an assessment was required every two years. After a legionella risks assessment, you should be issued with a risks assessment report, and after a legionella test, you should be issued with a legionella test sample report. Legionella is a bacteria that must be managed continuously, and therefore a one-off certificate is insufficient to prove compliance and control of the bacteria.
Can I test for legionella myself?
Generally no. In order to test for and control legionella growth, you will need experience in growing bacteria in laboratory conditions to specific standards for accurate results.
Do I need to test for legionella in my domestic water system?
If you are not making money from your property, e.g. letting a property, then the answer is no. There is currently no law to undertake legionella water testing in private domestic properties. However, if you provide accommodation or let a property then you are required to ensure you meet all Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Where do uRisk offer Legionella testing?
uRisk services are nationwide. Whether you have one or multiple water systems and one or multiple sites, we provide services across the country, with qualified engineers scattered throughout the UK and offices based in Hertfordshire which is a 30-minute train journey to London King’s Cross.
Why choose uRisk?
Over 25 years of water hygiene and legionella control experience.
Friendly and simple advice by phone, email & online at your convenience.
All staff are trained water hygiene consultants and engineers.
With engineers located all across the UK, we're never too far away.
Our labs are UKAS approved providing you with quality assurance.
Your one stop shop for Legionella control, no need to go elsewhere.